Distinguished Young Women has chosen board members for 2012

Pictured, are the recently chosen members of the 2012 Distinguished Young Women board. (Submitted by Stephanie Bradford)

MOBILE, Alabama -- Distinguished Young Women is pleased to announce its 2012-2013 board of directors and officers. Board members and officers were recently installed at the November 2012 annual meeting of the board of directors.

Joy Mitchell Grodnick will serve as president of the DYWomen board of directors for the upcoming year. Grodnick joined the board of directors in 1999 and has since been an integral player in helping to recruit sponsors and cultivate donors. She earned a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Texas where she met her husband, Jimmy. Together they have three daughters, Abby, Meryl and Leah. Grodnick has served on the board of directors for various organizations including Regions Bank, UMS-Wright Alumni Association, UMS-Wright Board of Trustees, American Cancer Society, Gulf Coast Exploreum, Mobile Ballet, and the Mobile AIDS Support Services.

“I am as passionate about this program now as when I joined the board in 1999,” said Grodnick. “I fully believe in the work we do to empower young women all across the United States and it is an honor and privilege to serve as president of the board of directors as we strive to take this program to the next level.”

Founded in 1958 in Mobile, Alabama, DYW is the largest and oldest national scholarship program for high school girls. During its 56 years of operation, the program has provided life-changing experiences for more than 730,000 young women. Last year, Distinguished Young Women provided more than $108 million in cash and college scholarship opportunities to program participants at the local, state and national level. Previously known as America’s Junior Miss, the program announced its new name in June 2010.

The mission of Distinguished Young Women is to positively impact the lives of young women by providing a transformative experience that promotes and rewards scholarship, leadership and talent. National sponsors include the City of Mobile, Mobile County, Wintzell’s Oyster House, Encore Rehabilitation, SPANX, Mobile Gas: A Sempra Company, Regions Bank, Alabama Power Foundation and Master Boat Builders.

For more information about Distinguished Young Women, contact Stephanie Bradford, National Headquarters Communications Director at 251-622-5335, Stephanie@DistinguishedYW.org) or visit www.DistinguishedYW.org. Find us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube: www.facebook.com/distinguishedyw; www.twitter.com/distinguishedyw; www.youtube.com/user/distinguishedyw